For the rest of the night, Anabeth couldn't shake the ghost of Damian's words.
You were being followed.
I saw you. That is enough.
Her steps felt too loud on the pavement as she walked back toward her dorm, every shadow suddenly suspicious, every rustling leaf sounding like a footstep. She didn't see anyone else lingering around—no dark figure, no stranger waiting in the distance—but the idea of someone watching her made something sharp coil in her chest.
By the time she reached her room, she wasn't sure if the shiver running down her spine came from fear, embarrassment, or the echo of Damian's presence.
---
Kara wasn't back yet, so the room was dim and quiet. Anabeth sat on her bed, hugging her knees to her chest, replaying the encounter.
He had stepped into her path like he'd been expecting her.
Like he knew exactly where she would walk.
Like he had been watching her.
Her stomach twisted at the thought. That should have scared her…
But she didn't feel scared of him.
That was the confusing part.
She lay back against her pillow, staring at the ceiling. Damian Knight wasn't the kind of man who followed people for casual reasons. And yet he had watched her twice now.
Why?
What did he want?
And what did he mean by you were being followed?
Her fingers curled around her blanket. Being noticed by Damian felt like being pulled by a tide she hadn't realized she was standing near.
Her phone buzzed.
She jolted upright.
Jace: Hope you got home safe. Want to grab coffee tomorrow?
She stared at the text. Something warm flickered in her chest. Normal. Jace was normal. Friendly. A safe anchor.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Anabeth: Sure. Just coffee.
Her own clarification made her laugh under her breath. She wasn't ready for anything more. Maybe she wasn't ready for anyone. But coffee? She could do coffee.
She put the phone down and rolled onto her side.
It took a long time for her breathing to slow, and even longer for sleep to come.
---
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, warm and golden. Kara was sprawled across her bed like someone had dropped her there from the sky.
"You look like a resurrected corpse," Anabeth said gently.
Kara groaned and threw an arm over her face. "Libraries are dangerous. Did you know you can lose track of time and die there?"
Anabeth laughed softly, pulling on a sweater. "You were there for three hours."
"Three. Hours." Kara peeked at her through her fingers. "Where were you last night?"
"Walking," Anabeth said vaguely.
"Walking." Kara squinted. "Suspicious."
Anabeth hesitated. She didn't want to mention Damian. The more she said his name out loud, the more real he felt.
"I just needed air," she said instead.
Kara accepted that with a sleepy shrug. "Well, maybe today we do something less…haunted."
"Coffee," Anabeth said.
Kara sat up. "With a boy?"
"It's not—"
"Oh my god, it's with a boy."
"It's just coffee," Anabeth insisted.
But her roommate was already smirking like she'd discovered buried treasure.
---
The campus café smelled like roasted espresso and pastries fresh from the oven. Students chatted quietly in warm corners, the hum of soft music in the background.
Jace waved her over with that same easy smile. "You came."
"I said I would." She slid into the seat across from him. "I try to keep promises."
"Good to know." He leaned back, eyes bright with interest. "So, what's your story, Anabeth?"
The question made her stiffen.
Her story?
Neglect. Loneliness. A lifetime of making herself small so she wouldn't be a burden.
But she couldn't hand that to him. Not yet.
"I'm just…trying to figure myself out," she said honestly.
He nodded. "Aren't we all?"
It was simple, casual. And yet it felt like she was being offered a safe space—a normal one.
For twenty minutes, they talked about classes, roommates, terrible cafeteria food. He teased her gently. She smiled more than she expected.
But then the café door opened.
And everything inside her stilled.
Damian walked in.
Not toward the counter. Not toward a table.
Toward her.
Jace noticed the shift in her expression before he saw the man approaching. He turned, and his shoulders tensed immediately.
Damian stopped beside their table, his shadow falling across her lap.
His expression didn't change. Cold. Unreadable. But his eyes flicked to Jace—calculating, sharp—before returning to her.
"Walk with me," he said.
Not asked.
Stated.
Jace blinked. "Excuse me? We're in the middle of—"
Damian didn't look at him again. He only watched Anabeth, waiting.
Her heartbeat thundered. People in the café had gone quiet, sensing the tension.
"Why?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"There are things you need to hear." His tone was low, controlled. "Away from here."
Jace scoffed. "She doesn't have to go anywhere with you. Who even are you?"
Slowly—so slowly—Damian turned his head, meeting Jace's glare.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
A muscle ticked in Damian's jaw. "I wasn't speaking to you."
Jace opened his mouth, but Anabeth touched his arm.
"It's okay," she whispered, though she didn't know if it was. "I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" he asked, brows drawing together.
No.
Yes.
Maybe.
"I won't go far."
Reluctantly, Jace let her stand.
Damian stepped back, giving her space—but not much. As soon as she was on her feet, he turned and walked out of the café, expecting her to follow.
She did.
Her pulse hammered as she caught up to him outside.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Keeping you alive."
Her breath hitched. "Damian—"
"Don't go to dark places alone. Don't walk without a purpose. Don't talk to strangers who watch you too closely."
"I don't understand—"
"You were followed again this morning."
Her heart stopped.
"What?"
He looked at her then—really looked at her—his eyes no longer cold, but burning with a warning so fierce it stole her breath.
"Someone has taken an interest in you," he said. "And I need to know why."
Her pulse thundered.
"Why do you care so much?" she whispered.
He exhaled once, slow and heavy, as if the truth irritated him more than anything else.
"Because people in my world do not notice girls like you."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"And when they do…" His gaze hardened.
"It never means anything good."
Her breath trembled.
"Stay close to places with people," Damian said. "Don't be alone until I figure this out."
"Figure what out?" she whispered.
He stepped closer, voice dropping into something dark and protective.
"Who wants you," he said. "And what they want you for."
---